settle



P. L. SETTLE.

AERIAL BOMB. APPLICATION man rimmzl, 19w.

Patented Oct. 14:, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET i.

P. L. SETTLE.

AERIAL BOMB. APPLICATION FILED MAR.21.1917.

1,318,926. Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HI. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL L. SETTLE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AERIAL BOMB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 21, 1917. Serial No. 156,807.

It is the primary aim of the invention to provide a bomb of the class mentioned which may be handled with safety and which may be arranged to explode at any desired prede termined elevation above the ground surface.

Another aim of the invention is to provide an aerial bomb which may be conveniently and very quickly set to explode at the desired elevation and in which the exploding mechanism may embody a second bomb designed to explode upon reaching the ground surface.

The bomb embodying the present invention includes an explosive shell and an exploding mechanism which embraces a spring actuated firing pin designed to be held inactive through the instrumentality of a pilot device while the bomb is falling, the said pilot device, however, being designed to permit actuation of the firing pin when the pilot device reaches the ground surface, and the inventlon has as another object to provide means for positively holding the firing pm from actuation by its spring while the omb is being handled, and before it is dropped from the aerial craft. Incidentally, the invention aims to so construct the exploding mechanism that the means provided for'positively holding the firing pin inactive will in turn be rendered inactive automatically when the bomb is released or dropped from the craft.

Another aim of the invention is to providea bomb of the class mentioned which before use may be arranged in compact form so as to occupy but little space.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bomb embodying the present invention in its com dition prior to use;

-in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bomb showing its condition while falling;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the bomb;

Fig. 4 is a similar view through the lower end only of the bomb and in a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the'firing pin removed from the bomb.

The bomb proper comprises an explosive shell including a hollow cylindrical body 1 which, at its upper end is interiorly threaded, as at 2, and closed by a'concavo convex cap 3 which has a filling opening 4 formed centrally therein and threaded to receive a plug 5 which is preferably provided with a polygonal head 6 having a transverse openother device for carrying the bomb or for suspending the same in position to be dropped. As stated, the cap 3 is concavo convex, the concave side of the cap being presented outwardly and housing the head 6 of the plug 5, in the manner clearly shown The body 1 of the shell is interiorly threaded at its lower end, as at 8, and" fitted therein is a circular head 9 which is formed upon its upper face with an interiorly threaded annular boss 10 receiving the lower end of a cell 11 in the upper end of which cell there is arranged a detonating cap 12. The boss 10 surrounds an opening 13 formed centrally within the head 9, and fitted within the said threaded lower end of the shell body 1 is another head, indicated by the numeral. 14 and {formed centrally with an opening 15 located opposite to but of smaller diameter than the opening 13, the heads 9 and 14 being in close contact, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The firing pin heretofore referred to includes a head 16 having a conical upper end 17 designed to strike the detonating cap 12 under conditions to be presently explained, and a stem 18 which is of less diameter than the head 16 and which extends downwardly from the lower end of the head and slidably through the opening 15. When the firing pin is inactive, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the lower end of the head 16 thereof will occupy the opening 13 and rest upon the upper surface of the head 14 at the opening 15, A collar 19 is fitted upon the Patented Oct. 14., 1919.

7 ing 7 in which may be engaged a hook or lower end of the stem 18 of the firing pin and is held against upward displacement by a cross pin or the like 20 which is fitted through the said stem, and extending in opposite directions from the collar 19 are arms 21 to the ends of which are connected the lower ends of springs 22, these springs at their upper ends being connected, as at 23, to the head 14. It will be understood that the firing pin may be retracted against the tension of the springs 22 to the inactive position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and that when the firing pin is released these springs will immediately act to drive the same upwardly against the detonating cap 12 thus explodin the charge contained within the shell. T is charge may be of any suitable and desired form but preferably there is arranged axially within the body of the shell a tubular charge container 24 which'may be in the nature of a paper 'tube and which at its lowerend surrounds the cell 11 for. the detonating ca 12 and at its upper end communicates wit the filling opening 4. It will be understood that any suitable charge of high explosive, indicated by the numeral 25, may be introduced into the container 24 through the filling opening 4. Prior to fittin the cap 3 into place in the upper end 0 the shell body, the space between the wall of the shell body and the tubular container 24 is filled with shrapnel balls or the like, indicated by,

the numeral 26.

The lower end of the stem 18 of the firing pin is provided with a head 27 having a ball race 28 surrounding the lower end of the stem and having arranged therein bearing balls 29. A yoke having a connecting portion 30 has its said portion formed with a central opening through which the lower end of the stem 18 loosely passes, the underside of the connecting portion of the yoke resting upon the bearing balls 29 whereby their lower ends are formed the yoke as a whole may have free turning movement about thelower end of the firing pin. It will be observed that the connecting portion of the yoke lies between the head 27 and collar 19. Depending from the portion 30 of the yoke are side portions 31 which at or other suitable bearings 32 for the rojecting ends of the spindle or reel 33. he

side portions 31 of the yoke are resilient and I their lower ends may, consequently, be sprung apart so as to permit of the ready insertlon into place and removal of the reel 33. Wound upon this reel 33 is a thin cable or other flexible element 34 to the free end.

of which is connected a pilot 35 which is in the nature of a weight and may be cast solid or may be of hollow formation and filled with shot or the like until the pilot possesses the desired weight, or this pilot may be in the nature of a second bomb designed to be with openings v shell and the cable 34 will be unwound from 1 the reel 33 until its entire length has been aid out. Any suitable means is provided orretarding the rotation of the reel 33 so as to prevent too rapid unwinding of the cable 34 and this means may consist of a ratchet head 36 at one end of the reel and a pawl 37 mounted upon the adjacent side member of the yoke 30, the pawl being held in engagement with the ratchet head by means of a leaf spring 38.

In order to suitably retard the descent of the bomb there is provided means which .will now be described. The retarding means includes upper and lower bands 39 and 40 each of which is formed in two sections, the bands being disposed to surround the body of the shell in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the corresponding ends of the sections of the two bands being connected by portions 41 and the meeting ends of the sections of each band having aperturedv ears 42 through which are passed clamping bolts 43. Pivotally connected, as at 44, to the band 39 at suitable intervals in the circumference thereof are retarding win 45 which, prior to the use of the bomT: depend beside the body of the shell andmore or less closely fit the same, the wings being suitably curved for this purpose. In order that the bvings may be held properly distended during the downward flight of the bomb, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a brace is provided for 7 each wing and comprises a section 46 pivotally connected to the lower band 40 and a section 47 pivotally connected, as at 48, to

firing pin. A sprin 5.4 is connected to the detent 50 and to t e head 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and after retracting the firing pin against the tension of the springs 22 the detent 50 may be drawn against the tension of the spring 54 into engagement in the recess 53 with its lug 51 seating behind the shoulder 52. Then when the firing pin is released and is drawn upwardly by the springs 22, its upward movement will be limited by the enga inent of the detent 50 a ainst the underside of the head 14. The mb may then be handled with safety. However, if it is desired to further insure against accidental explosion of the bomb a short wire or the like, indicated by the numeral 55, may be 5 connected ,to the detent 50 and led through an opening 56 formed in the stem 18 opposite the recess 53, and then connected to an eye 57 upon the underside of the head 14. Prior to dropping the bomb it will, of

course, be necessary to sever this wire. When the bomb is dropped the pilot 35- being heavier than the shell of the bomb will fall more rapidly and, therefore, the cable 34 will be unwound until its entire length has been paid out. It will be understood that the pilot 35 will maintain the cable 34 in taut condition and, therefore, the firing pin will be held retracted. Furthermore, the .pull upon the cable 34 will cause the firing pin to move downwardly to such an extent as to cause the detent 50 to clear the head 14 whereupon the spring 54 will cause the detent to leave the recess 53 so that it will be inactive and will not interfere with movement of the firing pin in the direction of the detonating cap 12. As soon as the pilot 35 reaches the ground surface, however, the cable 34 will be slackened and the springs 22 will drive the firing pin into contact-with the detonating cap 12, thereby exploding the shell. The lengthof the cable 34, of course, determines the elevation at which the bomb will be exploded and it will be understood that a number of 35 the reels or spools 33 may be carried having difierent lengths of cable wound thereon and one or another of the reels may be selected depending upon the elevation at which it is desired to explode the bomb. By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings it will beobserved that the firing mechanism projects below the lower end of the shell body 1 and when the bomb is being dropped is exposed so that if, for any reason, slackening of the cable 34 does not serve to explode the bomb, this will be sure to occur when the firing mechanism strikes the ground surface as'then the firing pin will be positively driven upwardly into contact with the detonating cap 12. In order to protect the firing mechanism prior to preparation of the bomb for dropping, and also for the purpose of further insuring against accidental explosion of the bomb, a hollow conoidal safety cap 58 is remova'bly threaded or otherwise fitted to the lower end of the shell body 1 and when in place completely incloses and houses the firing mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, 60 what is claimed as new is:

-1. In a bomb of the class described, an explosive shell, a firing element, a flexible element carried thereby and arranged when taut to exert a direct longitudinal pull on the firing element and hold the same inactive and when slackened to release the firing element for actuation, means for actuating the firing element, and a weight element connected with the said flexible element.

,2. In a bomb of the class described, an explosive shell, means for retarding the travel thereof, a firing pin, means tendingto actuate the firing pin, a flexible element carried by one end of the firing pin, and a weight connected with the said element.

3. In a bomb of the class described, an explosive shell, a firing pin slidably mounted in the shell, means tending to actuate the said pin, a flexible element carried by the lower end of the firing pin and arranged when taut to maintain the firing pin in inactive position and when slackened to release the same for actuation, and a weight connected with the said flexible element and being heavier than the said shell.

4. In a bomb of the class described, an explosive shell, a firing pin, means tending to actuate the firing pin, a detent for holding the firing pin inactive, means tending to render the detent inactive, a flexible element connected to the firing pin and arranged when taut to retract the firing pin and permit the last-mentioned means to render the detent inactive whereby to release the firing pin for actuation when the said flexible element becomes slack. 4

5-. In a bomb of the class described, an explosive shell, a firing pin slidably mounted in the shell, a spring tending to actuate the firing pin, a flexible element carried by the lower end of the firing pin and arranged when taut to exert a direct longitudinal pull upon the firing pin to hold the same retracted against the tension of the spring, and a pilot weight connected with the saidflexible element.

6. In a bomb of the class described, an explosive shell, a firing pin mounted slid ably, a spring tending to actuate the firing pin, a flexible element carried by the firing pin and arranged when taut to exert a direct longitudinal pull upon the firing pin to hold the same retracted against the tension of the spring, a pilot weight connected with the said flexible element, and means operable to positively engagethe firing pin above its lower end and hold it against actuation under the influence of the said spring.

7. In a bomb of the class described, an explosive shell, a. firing pin mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in the shell, means tending to actuate the said pin, a reel hung on the lower end of the pin, a flexible element wound upon the reel and arranged when taut to hold the firing pin inactive, a weight connected with the said flexible element, and means for retarding the rotation of the said reel.

8. In a bomb of the class described, an

explosive shell, a firing-pin, means tendingto actuate the said pin, a reel hung on the lower end of the pin, a flexible element wound upon the reel and arranged when taut to hold the firing pin inactive, a weight connected with the said flexible element, means for retarding the rotation of the said reel, and means for retarding the travel of the shell, the weight being heavier than the said shel a 9. In a bomb of the class-described, an explosive shell, a firing element, a 5 ring connected with the shell and with the ring element tending to move the firing element in a direction to explode the charge, a reel separated from the firing element, a flexible element wound upon the reel and arranged when taut to exert a pull upon the firing element through the said reel and thereby hold the element retracted againstthe tension of the spring, and a pilot weight connected with the said flexible element.

10. In combination, a main bomb, an auxiliary bomb located at a predetermined distance from themain bomb, and mechanism' to explode both the main bomb and the auxiliary bomb upon contact of the auxiliary bomb with the earth, whereby the main bomb is exploded while still in the air, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a main bomb, an auxiliary bomb, said auxiliary bomb being) normally located adjacent to the main omb, means to separate said main and auxiliary bombs to a predetermined distance during the flight of the main bomb, and means to explode both bombs upon contact of the auxiliary bomb with the earth, substantially as described.

12. An ordnance device comprising a plurality of spaced bombs and detonating means extendin between the two bombs for exploding one bomb when the other bomb explodes.

13. An ordnance device comprisin two bombs, means 'oining the two bombs together in spaced relationshi and means for exploding both bombs w en one bomb strikes an obstruction.

14. An ordnance device comprising a plurality of spaced bombs, means joining the bombs together, the device being so shaped and weighted that in flight one bomb will travel ahead, and detonating means for exploding the bombs when the forward bomb strikes.

15. An ordnance device comprising an elongate member, a bomb at each end of the member, the device being so shaped and weighted that in flight one .bomb will travel in advance, means for detonating the forward bomb when it strikes, and means respo'nsive to said'means for other bomb.

16. In a bomb of the class described, the combination of an explosive shell, a head secured in the lower end of the shell, a firing pin mounted for sliding longitudinal movement in the said head, a spring secured to the said head and connected to the firing pin to actuate the same to explode the shell, a yoke swiveled on the lower end of the firing pin, a reel, carried by said yoke,

a cable wound on the reel, and a pilot carried by said cable and normally holding the same taut whereby to retract the firing pin in opposition to the sprin acting thereon;

In testimony whereof I a PAUL L. SETTLE. [1,. 5.

detonating the x my signature; 

